11 Times Tattoo Artists Took Their 3D Tattoos To A Whole Other Level

The world is full of creative and talented artists who deserve to have their work in the spotlight. They go the extra mile to take their calling to a whole other level—and their clients are happy to show off their work.

Our team at Pictolic wanted to pay homage to some of the most capable tattoo artists out there, so we’ve curated this list of the most impressive 3D tattoos ever. The details and shadowwork are utterly incredible! Scroll down for some magnificent ink inspiration.

11 PHOTOS

#1 Tattoo For My Dear Father, It's Hard To Be A Fisherman

#2 Isn't This The Cutest Otter In The World?

#3 This Shark Looks Insane

Now, don’t get us wrong: 2D tattoos are majestic, too. But if you want to push the boundaries of your art and professional life, you can’t keep doing the same things over and over again.

You need to expand, experiment, and try different approaches. Some tattoo artists decide to specialize in the use of colors. Others go for more abstract art. Still, others hone their attention to detail to perfection. And some decide that 3D ink is going to be their forte.

#4 My Famous Heart Tattoo

#5 Tiny Floral Origami Tattoo

#6 Fox Tattoo

Creating the illusion of 3D, whether you’re inking another person or a piece of parchment, comes down to your skills in working with light and shadows, as well as perspective. These create a sense of depth and give the entire design a real-life quality.

You can’t do this by winging it. You need to know how light falls and shadows work in the real world, how objects overlap, and how big or small something looks the closer and further it is from the viewer.

#7 Just Some Typical Florida Activity

#8 Two Tattoos Dedicated To Parents, They Will Always Walk With You

#9 Cats Love Tattoo

Truly good tattoos require a mix of several things. They don’t happen by accident (well, maybe once in a blue moon…). For one, you need your tattoo artist to be skilled, capable, and cool as a cucumber under stress.

On top of that, unless you’re fine with completely experimental tattoos, you need to clearly know what design you want and constantly communicate with the artist.

#10 Bowser From Super Mario Tattoo

#11 Homer Sticker Tattoo On A Client From British Columbia